'The Importance of Being Earnest' at Las Positas College theater tonight

Oscar Wilde's play continues Fridays, Saturdays through Dec. 12

For the first time in Las Positas College history, the Theater Arts department will stage a second main stage production in a single semester.

Tonight and continuing through Dec. 12, the school will perform Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest" with two newcomers performing in the title roles: Alex Bru as John Worthing and Nicholas Shannon as Algernon Moncrieff, in the roles of two young gentlemen who have taken to bending the truth in order to put some excitement into their lives.

As part of their plan, Worthing invents a brother, Earnest, whom he uses as an excuse to leave his dull life behind to visit Gwendolyn. Moncrieff then decides to take the name Earnest when visiting Worthing's young and beautiful ward, Cecily.

Of course, no comedy would be complete without a kink thrown into the mix, and things begin to go awry when the pair end up together in the country and their deceptions are discovered.

"Though the show was written for the later 1800's, we will be setting it in the 1950's, an era closely related to Victorian social values," said Director and Theater Arts Department Coordinator Titian Lish.

"This touch of recognizable modernity sheds new light on the comedy, and lends itself to fabulous costume design by our student costume designer, Lenee Madeera, with impeccable execution from our new costume design class under the guidance of Wes Morgan," Lish added.

With a modernized setting and Wilde's witty dialogue, The Importance of Being Earnest is, according to Lish, a "trivial comedy for serious people" and "delightful in its artifice, speed and character development."

Who: Las Positas College Theater Arts Department

What: The Importance of Being Earnest

When: Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 2 p.m. through Dec. 12.